By PAT NEWMAN
Staff Writer

The Panther Athletic Booster Club is paving the way for students to leave behind a permanent remembrance of their years at Starr's Mill High School with an innovative bricklaying project.

In a project initiated by Starr's Mill parent and Panther booster Emmanuel Bashakes, the bricks will be laid at the entrance to the new stadium, expected to be under construction by the end of May. “It's the perfect lead-in to the stadium,” Bashakes said.

Money raised from the sale of an anticipated 1,800 bricks is earmarked for paying off $130,000 in start-up expenses incurred by the school's athletic department. Bashakes envisions the bricks as a legacy-building opportunity for students.

The bricks sell for $20 and provide two lines of 14 characters per line. Names of teachers, administrators, club members or family members also can be inscribed on the cinnamon color bricks provided by Georgia Marble.

Bashakes said this will be an ongoing project, with additional bricking done later to link the stadium and adjacent athletic fields to be built. “We want to get programs in place that will eventually get the athletic department to be self-supporting,” he explained. Bashakes said he will oversee the brick project for the next six years until it “grows its own feet.”

Order forms can be obtained from the office at Starr's Mill, the Board of Education office and Bashakes (770- 631-0682). All forms must be received by May 30.